Jan 31, 2011

The Archbishop of Canterbury supports Bishop Orombi's exclusion of homosexuals.* How does excluding people for who they are even pretend to be Christian?
¨In his press conference yesterday in Dublin, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, condemned the actions of the Ugandan rag "Rolling Stone" (not to be confused with the US magazine) for calling for the hanging of "homos". He pointed out that words matter ..... when uttered by what he called "this rotten, disgraceful Ugandan publication" and they have serious consequences. Responsibility needs to be taken, he said.

The same goes for the Archbishop. Words matter. In the same press conference he defended Ugandan Archbishop Henry Orombi's anti-gay stance. The Irish Times put it this way: "Defending Bishop Orombi, Archbishop Williams, head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, emphasised that, as with other relevant Anglican primates, Bishop Orombi’s position concerned “exclusion from ministry on grounds of behaviour, not orientation”.

Those words uttered by the Archbishop, supporting the institutionalized homophobia in the Church of Uganda, matter. They send a dangerous mixed message that does nothing but perpetuate an atmosphere of fear and discrimination. An atmosphere that could lead to violence and death. He needs to take responsibility for muddy-ing the waters...¨ HERE

Attention Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury:

The "rotten, disgraceful Ugandan publication" Rolling Stone (not U.S. magazine) called for the hanging of heterosexual Anglican Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo along with David Kato. Bishop Christopher was ¨disgracefully¨ excommunited in his retirement by Archbishop Orombi for ministering to desperate, often suicidal, LGBTI Anglicans/other ...his life, Bishop Christophers is in danger as you continue to ¨selectively¨ address the problem of LGBTI ¨outcasting¨ in Uganda by endorsing the punitive acts of Archbishop Henry Orombi.
﻿

Anglican Hero and LGBTI Spiritual Counselor, Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo was excommunicated by Bishop Orombi and ¨disgraced¨ by the ¨rotten publication¨ along with David Kato (who was murdered last week). Bishop Christoper has been ignored by Archbishop Williams.

﻿¨Supporting those who support homophobia is no different than supporting homophobia yourself.¨

¨Words matter. Our words matter as well. We need to continue to urge the Archbishop of Canterbury and all faith leaders to step up and speak out against homophobia. We need to ask the Archbishop to stop speaking out of both sides of his mouth. He needs to hear words that say: Supporting those who support homophobia is no different than supporting homophobia yourself.

Yesterday the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts-Schori, called upon us all to "heal the world". A giant step toward healing is ending homophobia. A good start would be for the Archbishop of Canterbury to recognize his words matter. No more mixed messages. Please!!!!!!¨ HERE

The Anglican Church of Uganda´s Position on Homosexuality

¨From a plain reading of Scripture, from a careful reading of Scripture, and from a critical reading of Scripture, homosexual practice has no place in God’s design of creation, the continuation of the human race through procreation, or His plan of redemption. Even natural law reveals that the very act of sexual intercourse is an experience of embracing the sexual “other”. The Church of Uganda, therefore, believes that “Homosexual practice is incompatible with Scripture” (Resolution 1.10, 1998 Lambeth Conference). At the same time, the Church of Uganda is committed at all levels to offer counseling, healing and prayer for people with homosexual disorientation, especially in our schools and other institutions of learning. The Church is a safe place for individuals, who are confused about their sexuality or struggling with sexual brokenness, to seek help and healing.¨

Henry Luke Orombi, Anglican Archbishop of Uganda

*Archbishop Henry Orombi´s Position On Homosexuality

"People should respect nature and the great creator who modelled man and woman. He wasn't blind and he knows why he created a man's parts and a woman's parts. Why should anyone try to undo that?" Henry Luke Orombi, man of God HERE

Today I am ashamed to be an Anglican.

¨The accounts of David Kato's funeral have shocked and depressed me as I think of his family and friends gathered there to mourn, but instead being subjected to a kind of pastoral rape.

Yesterday I wrote in hopeful terms that there was an opportunity for the Archbishop of Uganda to live up to the proud Christian history of his country, to bring peace in the midst of conflict.
His predecessors stood up for the Gospel and for justice, and some gave their lives for it - the church he leads now is doing neither. The Gospel they have chosen to embrace appears more ready to condemn than to love, by its actions as well as by its words. That is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The appalling way in which his funeral was handled has ensured that a new martyr has been born in Uganda - and the role of martyrs has always been a powerful force in the spirituality of Uganda.

But unlike the martyrs which the Church of Uganda celebrates, David will be the kind of martyr who, like the prophets of the Old Testament, shines a light into the lives of those who profess to be God's people. What will that light show?

It will show an Archbishop in Uganda who has remained silent, while other Archbishops speak out, and even Presidents express their deep sadness. It will show a church which is content to Scapegoat a vulnerable minority, rather than face its own moral bankruptcy. It has shown the world who the real 'violators' of Lambeth 1:10 are - those who refuse to listen to others - those who refuse to assure homosexuals that they "are loved by God and that all baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ" - those who refuse "to minister pastorally and sensitively to all irrespective of sexual orientation".

¨The Gospel they (Anglican Church of Uganda) have chosen to embrace appears more ready to condemn than to love, by its actions as well as by its words.¨

Repentance is needed in Uganda - but it is not the repentance of the gay community - it the repentance of a church that has lost its way.

¨All the key architects of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009 have spoken about David Kato's murder and are using it to further their agenda of hate. But there is hope. David Kato's funeral feels like a stonewall moment for Uganda's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community.¨ HERE

Giles Muhame, publisher of slanderous tabloid, holding the Rolling Stone (not U.S. Magazine) with the picture of David Kato, murdered last week, and the picture of excommunicated Anglican Hero Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo (under the diagonal yellow ¨Hang Them¨ Banner)

﻿ The Hope:

¨We challenged everything in our society that stands between us and being accepted for what we are. Gay activists in Uganda are quarrelsome and militant. Many in the mould of David Kato. And, it was very much in evidence at the funeral.

I cannot understate how historical what happened was...

We stood up, reached out, and broke the mould of what is expected of us as Gay Ugandans. We actually came out.

And, I cannot downplay what happened at the funeral.

The preacher. From the Church of Uganda, Anglican. With his message of 'repent'.

Of course, our reaction was predictable. And, taking the mic out of the guy's hands was the least that we could have done. He desecrated David Kato's funeral. And, he was throwing mud in our grief, simply because he felt, he believed that we should 'repent'. Served him right, the embarassment.

But, I guess he will not see it like that.

The locals refused to bury David. So, we went ahead and did the honours.

And, it was all faithfully taped and on the evening news, here. NTV.

Big deal? Of course.

The rejection. Our reaction. And the fact that the world saw... but also Ugandans saw what happened.

It is a homophobic country. We exposed ourselves. And, we put our finger in the eye of traditionalism and 'conservatism', and did our thing.

¨The readings for this Sunday, too, speak to me about the abuses that have happened this week in Uganda, and elsewhere, against LGBT people. Our first lesson is from the prophet, Micah, which begins with God reminding Israel of all that has been done for the nation.

"With what shall I come before the LORD,

and bow myself before God on high?

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

with calves a year old?

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,

with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?

--Micah 6: 6-8Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with your God. That is what is expected. I wonder if the head of the Church of Uganda, Archbishop Henry Orombi, has any clue or concept that he must read this passage from the prophet and see the error of his ways? He has encouraged and fostered hatred of homosexuals in his country and around the globe. Let's face it: St. Peter's Anglican Church, the renegade crew that left St. John's in Tallahassee with accusations of 'unorthodoxy' and such, is affiliated with the Anglican Church in Uganda. And one need only do a YouTube search to find that the faux priest Eric Dudley is STILL foaming at the mouth about TEC's acceptance of LGBT Christians. I would ask Eric Dudley, Henry Orombi, Nicholas Okoh, Martin Ssempa, Scott Lively, "The Family" on C Street and all the others: where was the justice and the kindness in the offense committed at David Kato's funeral? How was launching into an anti-gay rant at a gay man's funeral a humble walk with your God?

"Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us..."

I am admittedly finding it extremely difficult to forgive what is happening on the ground in Uganda. Ultimately, I know that God is watching what is unfolding there, and my hope rests in the belief that Kato's death may stir some otherwise complacent people to see that the time for silence and wishy-washy liberal excuses about not wanting to appear "colonial" will come to a halt. This is a human rights issue, not a matter of trying to impose foreign rule. It is not OK to kill or to call for the hanging of peaceful people such as Bishop Christopher Senyonjo. People are being murdered for who they are. How is this different from any other holocaust or genocide in history?¨ read it allHERE

· Thanks to Wake Up and Live, sidebar
· Thanks to Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo, Uganda
· Thanks Be to God

His own church sent a person who stood up at the gathering of several hundred
friends and family and began a filthy foam of condemnation

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you.

In the crowd of friends and family stood a man and his wife.

The man, Christopher, was a Bishop in the Anglican church.

However, Christopher had been excommunicated and defrocked

by his Anglican Archbishop because of his support of homosexuals.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Christopher came forward, helped family and friends

take the coffin some distance to the grave,

and gave David a Christian burial and final blessing.

Blessed are the merciful.Blessed are the peacemakers.

Dear people of God, we have much work to do to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation in the world. Let us as a priestly people offer our prayers on behalf of the world; let us gather at this Table not for solace and pardon only, but for strength and renewal.

Let us pray: Almighty God, who created us in your own image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AmenHERE

"You must repent. Even the animals know the difference between a male and a female," Anglican priest Thomas Musoke told mourners at the funeral of David Kato who was killed Wednesday at his home outside the capital Kampala.

"How can human beings claim they don't know the difference between a man and a woman and that the two have different roles?" said Musoke, to shouts of support by some in the gathering.

Musoke's role was already unwelcome to some mourners and his lengthy sermon that crescendoed with gay bashing riled the leader of the Sexual Minorities Group in Uganda, Julian Pepe, who pulled the microphone from the priest, sparking a scuffle.

Police moved in to quell the melee and whisked away the priest. An excommunicated priest (turns out to be Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo, friend of LGBTI Ugandans and ¨excommunicated¨ by Archbishop Orombi for ¨ministering¨ to desperate LGBTI Ugandans) then wound up the ceremony attended by around 200 people, including US deputy head of mission Virginia Blaser....read it all ¨ HERE

"The world has gone crazy," the pastor told the congregation through a microphone. "People are turning away from the scriptures. They should turn back, they should abandon what they are doing. You cannot start admiring a fellow man."

Gay activists, wearing T-shirts featuring Kato's face with sleeves coloured with the gay pride flag, then stormed the pulpit and grabbed the microphone. "It is ungodly," the pastor shouted, before being blocked from sight.

An unidentified female activist then began to shout from the pulpit. "Who are you to judge others?" she shouted. "We have not come to fight. You are not the judge of us. As long as he's gone to God his creator, who are we to judge Kato?" HERE

﻿

NEWS UPDATE TODAY: From Dublin, Ireland--Prayers for David Kato offered by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, Primate, The Episcopal Church

Appropriate ¨Prayers for the repose of the soul of David Kato¨ were offered by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, Primate, The Episcopal Church/Anglican Communion this morning at ¨Morning Prayer¨ attended and heard by Worldwide Anglican Primates at The Primates Meeting, Dublin Ireland HERE

Lord, hear her prayers for David Kato and for all who suffer injustice and abuse

¨Rest in peace David. We remember you for your courage, honesty and unwavering commitment to the struggle for the right and dignity for all of us to be who we are. We remember you David for the beautiful human being you were. You will always live in our hearts.¨ HERE

·David Kato Kisule, Human Rights Defender·

¨The blood of David Kato is on their hands and on the hands of those politicians and religious leaders both in Uganda and in the US who have led the campaign of hate against LGBTIQ people: David Bahati, Red Pepper (Uganda’s tabloid newspaper); Martin Ssempa, Ugandan Minister of Ethics; Nsaba Buturu, Archbishop of Rwanda; Onesphore Rwaje; Archbishop Henry Orombi of Uganda; Bishops of the All African Bishops Conference; Prime Minister of Uganda Apolo Nsibambi; Rev Bernard Ntahoturi of Burundi; Archbishops Akinola and Nicholas Okoh of Nigeria; Peter Karamaga; the National Anti-Homosexual Task-force Uganda; Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and his wife Janet Museveni; Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe; Pastor Mulinde of Trumpet Church Uganda; Lou Engle; Rick Warren; Scott Lively and Dan Schmierer of the ‘ex-gay’ group Exodus International; Jon Qwelane; Bishop Lawrence Chai of Free Apostolic Churches of Kenya; Sheikh Ali Hussein of Masjid Answar Sunna Mosque; the African Union’s African Commission on People and Human Rights who denied Coalition of African Lesbians observer status; and all those who voted at the UN General Assembly Human Rights Committee to delete the reference to killings due to sexual orientation condemning unjustified executions.¨

MORE UPDATE FROM UGANDA:¨Pastor Shouts Against Gays At Kato Funeral, Fights Break Out¨

Hundreds gathered at the funeral for slain Ugandan LGBT activist David Kato today, where fights broke out after the Anglican Priest conducting the ceremony raged against homosexuals. HERE

Anglican priest Thomas Musoke, one of Archbishop Orombi´s gang of hate-mongering demonizers ¨rages against homosexuals¨ at David Katos Funeral!

And so the vile hatred continues in Uganda as the so-called/self-called ¨religious¨ join the vertically corrupt politicians in posioning minds and spirits against LGBTI Christians/others when and wherever they can including the funeral of Gay hero DAVID KATO.

Lord have mercy on spirtiually and emotionally sick men and women in Uganda and beyond who do harm in the name of a God who Commands US to ¨love God and oneanother.¨

Jan 27, 2011

Human Rights Activist and Gay Ugandan Citizen, David Katos murder connected to the ¨Kill the Gays¨ Bill pending before the Parliament of Uganda that was inspired by American so-called ¨Evangelical¨ preachers.

¨Yesterday Ugandan LGBT activist David Kato was bludgeoned to death in his home just weeks after his photo was emblazoned on the cover of a local newspaper with the accompanying headline "HANG THEM!" The newspaper articles and Kato's murder came after months of international outrage over Uganda's proposed and still-pending "kill gays" bill, legislation that orders the death penalty for homosexuals in some cases and life imprisonment in others.

¨Pastor¨ Scott Lively, ¨reprobate homophobe¨

¨Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.¨ HERE

¨The inspiration for Uganda's gay death penalty bill, and surely, Kato's murder, arises from the work of American evangelists, chief among them the repulsive anti-gay activist Scott Lively, whose infamous book The Pink Swastika blames the rise of the Nazi Party and the Holocaust on gay men. One year ago, the New York Times profiled Lively's hand in Uganda's burgeoning pogrom against homosexuals, which began after Lively hosted a three-day meeting attended by thousands of Ugandan police, teachers, and politicians.The three Americans who spoke at the conference — Scott Lively, a missionary who has written several books against homosexuality, including “7 Steps to Recruit-Proof Your Child”; Caleb Lee Brundidge, a self-described former gay man who leads “healing seminars”; and Don Schmierer, a board member of Exodus International, whose mission is “mobilizing the body of Christ to minister grace and truth to a world impacted by homosexuality” — are now trying to distance themselves from the bill.¨I feel duped,” Mr. Schmierer said, arguing that he had been invited to speak on “parenting skills” for families with gay children. He acknowledged telling audiences how homosexuals could be converted into heterosexuals, but he said he had no idea some Ugandans were contemplating the death penalty for homosexuality. “That’s horrible, absolutely horrible,” he said. “Some of the nicest people I have ever met are gay people.”Mr. Lively and Mr. Brundidge have made similar remarks in interviews or statements issued by their organizations. But the Ugandan organizers of the conference admit helping draft the bill, and Mr. Lively has acknowledged meeting with Ugandan lawmakers to discuss it. He even wrote on his blog in March that someone had likened their campaign to “a nuclear bomb against the gay agenda in Uganda.” Later, when confronted with criticism, Mr. Lively said he was very disappointed that the legislation was so harsh.Human rights advocates in Uganda say the visit by the three Americans helped set in motion what could be a very dangerous cycle. Gay Ugandans already describe a world of beatings, blackmail, death threats like “Die Sodomite!” scrawled on their homes, constant harassment and even so-called correctional rape.

Yesterday Scott Lively's "nuclear bomb" against Ugandan gays went off in the form of the iron bar which crushed the skull of David Kato. In some countries, it's possible that Lively would be under arrest today. Also complicit in this murder is Peter LaBarbera, who for years has worked to publicize and praise Scott Lively's evil agenda.

Then there's Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council, who last year paid lobbyists $25,000 to convince members of Congress to block a planned resolution denouncing Uganda's gay death penalty bill. And let's not forget Pastor Rick Warren, who supported, funded, appeared with, and publicized the work of Uganda's leading anti-gay activist, Pastor Martin Ssempa...¨ read it all HERE

¨I am deeply saddened to learn of the murder of David Kato. In Uganda, David showed tremendous courage in speaking out against hate. He was a powerful advocate for fairness and freedom. The United States mourns his murder, and we recommit ourselves to David’s work.¨ Barack Obama, President of The United States of America HERE

¨We are profoundly saddened by the loss of Ugandan human rights defender David Kato, who was brutally murdered in his home near Kampala yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues. We urge Ugandan authorities to quickly and thoroughly investigate and prosecute those responsible for this heinous act.David Kato tirelessly devoted himself to improving the lives of others. As an advocate for the group Sexual Minorities Uganda, he worked to defend the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. His efforts resulted in groundbreaking recognition for Uganda’s LGBT community, including the Uganda Human Rights Commission’s October 2010 statement on the unconstitutionality of Uganda’s draft “anti-homosexuality bill” and the Ugandan High Court’s January 3 ruling safeguarding all Ugandans’ right to privacy and the preservation of human dignity. His tragic death underscores how critical it is that both the government and the people of Uganda, along with the international community, speak out against the discrimination, harassment, and intimidation of Uganda’s LGBT community, and work together to ensure that all individuals are accorded the same rights and dignity to which each and every person is entitled.

Everywhere I travel on behalf of our country, I make it a point to meet with young people and activists — people like David — who are trying to build a better, stronger future for their societies. I let them know that America stands with them, and that their ideas and commitment are indispensible to achieving the progress we all seek.Hillary Rodham ClintonSecretary of StateWashington, DCJanuary 27, 2011

“David’s death is a result of the hatred planted in Uganda by U.S Evangelicals in 2009. The Ugandan Government and the so-called U.S Evangelicals must take responsibility for David’s blood!” HERE

¨David was apparently killed in his home, by a person or persons unknown. Yes, there is a suspect, or suspects. Problem with investigations in Uganda is the fact that what is not verified will always remain in the realms of conjecture.

The worldwide LGBT community is reeling over the loss of a fearless leader.

What remains is that we have lost one of our most prominent firebrands. Indeed, he was on the front page of the RollingStone with Heterosexual Bishop Ssenyonjo (excommunicated by Archbishop Orombi for ministering to suicidal LGBTI Ugandan outcasts) HERE Remember, the one with the caption to 'Hang Them'. And yes, he was one of the three who sued the Rolling Stone (not U.S. publication), and won.¨

UPDATE: Joint statement by the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights,the Co-President of the Africa Caribbean Pacific Joint Parliamentary Assembly,and the Co-Presidents of the Intergroup on LGBT Rights in the European Parliament

Death of David Kato (pictured center), LGBT activist in Uganda

¨We are deeply saddened by the murder of David Kato Kisule, yesterday 26 January in Kampala, Uganda. David was a lifelong human rights defender; he will be remembered for his outstandingly brave defense of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people’s human rights in Uganda. Our condolences go to David’s family and friends.

As Sexual Minorities Uganda’s Advocacy Officer, David had come to the European Parliament on several occasions to expose the plight of LGBT people in Uganda, notably in the wake of David Bahati’s ‘Anti-Homosexuality Bill’ (sic). Following the publication of lists of presumed homosexual Ugandans by tabloid Rolling Stone, and subsequent attacks on LGBT activists, David bravely faced the Rolling Stone editors in a lawsuit, obtaining the condemnation of the paper and a strong High Court judgement on the universal right to life and dignity.¨read it allHERE

Gay Kenya To Hold Vigil In Uganda Embassy In Nairobi

In honor of murdered Ugandan activistDavid Kato Kisule

¨In lieu of the death of David Kato in Uganda, Gay Kenya invites you all to lay tribute in honor of David Kato at the Ugandan Embassy tomorrow, January 28th from 10am. This will coincide with his burial taking place tomorrow at his rural home. Flowers donated by Gay Kenya will be laid at the front of the Embassy, riverside drive, just before the German embassy. In addition, candles will be lit to honor his life and work. Flowers, banners, candles and any memorabilia are most welcome tomorrow.

We ask all activists, LGBTI persons and human rights defenders to join us tomorrow for this small but important mark of respect to our fallen comrade.¨Denis Nzioka in Nairobi

David Kato, Ugandan Gay Hero and Martyr

“Kato” Means the Eldest of Twins

¨That’s one thing I learned in a facebook message this morning, and it forms a part of GayUganda’s reaction today to the news that Ugandan LGBT activist David Kato was brutally murdered in his home yesterday. He writes:We need to celebrate his life. Maybe that will take our minds off the desperate vulnerability of ours…. how quickly, how easily we can lose all, in the name of nothing, or something.But, it is a matter of fact that he lived his life. And, was happy. A gay man in Uganda.

…Maybe for the days when he was still alive to pester us with his demands, his beliefs in what he wanted to have done. He was a doer, and, in a difficult environment, he was an achiever. With scanty resources, he did what he could, and did it fairly well.Of course he was a human being. Cantankerous, devious, quarrelsome.But, he was a human being, a fighter, going to the police cells to look for those accused of being gay. Going to court to stand up for our rights.

Puerto Rican Americans marching and celebrating on 5th Avenue, New York City, during the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade Sen. Patrick Le...

REAL HERO/REAL LIFE: Bishop John Shelby Spong

“I was simply interpreting a rising consciousness,” he said. “Whether it was race or women or homosexual people, the issue was always the same: fighting against anything that dehumanizes a child of God on the basis of an external characteristic.” Bishop John Shelby Spong (click on his photo)

¨Churches say that the expression of love in a heterosexual monogamous relationship includes the physical, the touching, embracing, kissing, the genital act - the totality of our love makes each of us grow to become increasingly godlike and compassionate. If this is so for the heterosexual, what earthly reason have we to say that it is not the case with the homosexual?¨ Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu